Adding Details Effectively

Grade: 5

Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 25 students

Unit: Retelling Percy Jackson Adventures (Lesson 4 of 8)

Subject: English Language Arts (ELA)

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Curriculum Expectations (Ontario Language Curriculum - Grade 5)

Reading and Literature Studies

• 1.4 Demonstrate understanding of a variety of texts by summarizing important ideas and citing supporting details (Overall Expectation 1)
• 1.5 Identify and explain how specific words, expressions, or stylistic elements contribute to meaning (Specific Expectation 1.5)

Writing

• 2.1 Generate ideas about a potential topic using a variety of strategies and sources (Specific Expectation 2.1)
• 2.5 Draft and revise writing, focusing on creating interest and engaging the reader by adding descriptive details such as sensory details and character feelings (Specific Expectation 2.5)
• 2.6 Use knowledge of spelling, grammar, and punctuation to edit and revise own writing with some teacher support (Specific Expectation 2.6)

Overall, this lesson aligns with:

• Writing: Purpose, Audience, and Form (Overall Expectation 2)

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Learning Goals (I Can Statements)

• I can revise my retelling outline by adding descriptive sensory details to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind.
• I can include character emotions and reactions to make my retelling more engaging.
• I can identify where adding details will improve my story’s clarity and interest.

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Success Criteria

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Identify at least three sensory details to add to their retelling outline.
• Add descriptive language relating to sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch in their story map.
• Include at least two examples of character emotions or thoughts in their revised outline.
• Explain how these added details help the reader better understand the story.

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Materials Needed

• Students’ retelling outlines from Lesson 3
• Copies of grade-appropriate excerpts from Percy Jackson texts (short paragraphs that highlight sensory or emotional detail)
• Chart paper/whiteboard and markers
• “Sensory Detail” and “Character Emotion” graphic organisers
• Sticky notes
• Writing journals/notebooks
• Highlighters or coloured pencils

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Lesson Procedure

1. Engage / Activate (10 minutes)

Objective: Activate prior knowledge & introduce sensory and emotional detail

• Begin with a quick read-aloud of a vivid passage from Percy Jackson focusing on descriptive sensory details and character feelings.
• Ask students: “What words helped you feel like you were in the story? How did the description help you understand how the character felt?”
• Record student responses on chart paper under two columns: “Sensory Details” and “Character Emotions.”
• Use guiding questions:
  • Which senses did the author use? (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch)
  • What emotions did the character show? How was this shown through words?

2. Explore / Explain (15 minutes)

Objective: Recognize where details can be added to improve a retell

• Review students’ retelling outlines from Lesson 3. Distribute graphic organisers (“Sensory Details” and “Character Emotion”) printed for each student.
• Model (using a sample outline on the board) how to add sensory details and emotions at different points in the outline. For example: “Instead of just ‘Percy walked into the cave,’ I might say, ‘Percy cautiously stepped into the dark, damp cave, feeling the cool, wet air brush against his skin and hearing distant dripping water.’”
• Highlight how these additions engage the reader and build atmosphere.

3. Guided Practice (20 minutes)

Objective: Students revise their own retelling outlines with sensory and emotional details

• Students work independently or in pairs to add details to their outlines using the graphic organisers as scaffolds.
• Circulate to provide differentiated support:
  • For students who struggle, suggest simple sensory words (e.g., “hot,” “loud,” “rough”) and feelings (e.g., “scared,” “excited”) to add.
  • For advanced learners, encourage use of figurative language (similes, metaphors) and complex emotions (e.g., “conflicted,” “determined”).
• Encourage students to highlight these additions in a different colour.

4. Share and Reflect (10 minutes)

Objective: Review and reflect on the impact of added details

• Invite volunteers to share one section of their revised outline that now includes sensory and emotional detail.
• As a class, discuss: “How did the details change the way you imagine the scene? How does it help you understand the character better?”
• Students write a short reflection in their writing journals:
  • “I added these details to my story...
  • These details help my reader by...”

5. Closure (5 minutes)

Objective: Summarize learning and set expectations for next lesson

• Recap the importance of adding details for an engaging retell.
• Highlight that next lesson (Lesson 5) they will practise putting the revised outline into a full retell paragraph or script.
• Set a simple homework task: Find a passage in another favourite book or story and identify two sensory details and one character emotion.

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Differentiation Strategies

• Support for Diverse Learners:

  • Provide word banks and sentence starters for adding sensory details and emotions.
  • Pair students strategically for peer support.
  • Use visuals or short video clips of scenes to help concretize sensory/emotional concepts.
  • Allow oral responses or use assistive technology (e.g., speech-to-text) as needed.

• Extension for Advanced Learners:

  • Encourage adding figurative language techniques (simile, metaphor).
  • Challenge them to write an additional paragraph expanding a scene using all five senses and complex emotional vocabulary.
  • Invite students to peer review outlines focusing specifically on descriptive language.

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Assessment

• Formative assessment through observation of student participation and contributions during discussions and paired work.
• Review revised outlines for inclusion of at least three sensory details and two character emotions as per the success criteria.
• Journal reflections demonstrate student understanding of how added details improve retells.
• Teacher notes for individual feedback and to track progress for future lessons.

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Teacher Reflection (Post-Lesson)

• Which strategies most effectively helped students add descriptive details?
• Did students demonstrate deeper comprehension of character emotions?
• How successful was the use of graphic organisers?
• What adjustments might be made to better support diverse learners in subsequent lessons?

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This lesson plan is designed to deepen students’ narrative skills, aligned to the Ontario Curriculum expectations for Grade 5 ELA while keeping the lesson engaging through interactive and differentiated learning. It also offers ways to challenge advanced students and support those needing scaffolding—ideal for a junior classroom balancing literacy with curricular richness.